Putin Moves to Tighten Reign on Regions

In a fresh move to tighten control over the regions, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday that he would submit to the State Duma a package of bills "strengthening and cementing Russian statehood."

In a televised address to the nation, Putin announced the main bill would change the principle of formation of the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament.

Under the new document, the regional leaders would concentrate on their work in the regions, and their representatives would start making laws in the parliament's upper house, but now on a permanent basis.

In addition, Putin is also proposing that a procedure for recalling regional chiefs and dissolving local legislative assemblies be written into law.

Meanwhile, the regional leader's power to remove subordinate officials from office would also be written into law. Putin said the proposed moves were intended to make "the legislative and executive powers truly effective."

However, he said that the regional leaders should still be publicly elected.

"These submitted bills are not directed against regional leaders, who should remain the pillars of the president," Putin explained.

He urged the deputies of the two houses of parliament to drop their political and party-oriented ambitions and concentrate on a practical matter -- the strengthening of the Russian state system. Putin's announcement Wednesday came after his decree issued last week to carve the country into seven districts, each with its own presidential representative.

The new representatives will replace those who now work in 80 of the 89 regions in accordance with a 1997 presidential decree signed by former President Boris Yeltsin.

The new representatives are to report directly to the president and are charged with "guaranteeing the realization of the constitutional powers of the head of state."

Last week, Putin put to use his constitutional authority over the regions by suspending decrees of the leaders of Ingushetia and the Amur region. He also told Bashkortostan to bring its constitution in line with federal law.



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